Long overdue update!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that we haven't been abducted by aliens or anything. It has been a while since my last post. Between the insanity of the move overseas, everyday life with a 3 and a 4 year old, and VERY slow internet...I have not made a blog post in a while. I will try to make a frequent trip to the coffee shop on base so I can use their speedy wifi for posting pics.

We are all settled in and feeling more and more at home every day. This move was a HUGE transition for all of us, but we are all doing well and enjoying this big adventure.

Really...despite the insanity of our life at times, LIFE IS GOOD!!! Work is good, home is good, kida are good. We really have no legitimate reason to complain.

I am just going to post 2 pics for now...just to keep the readers happy (it will seriously take an hour for these few pics to upload!!!!). Of course...I know what my blog followers want to see....so here are Keegan and Reese in Europe:)

Miss and love you all...and the guest room is yuors if you ever need a European getaway!!!

A, K, K, and R

Easter

The highlight of this Easter was Reese's dress:) It was given to her by her Godmother Rebecca and to say that she is in love would be an understatement!!! She has worn this dress at some point EVERY day for the last few weeks, and there have been lots of tears shed when she isnt allowed to wear it while eating spaghetti, playing in the mud etc. She twirls for hours!!!

We went to church in the morning followed by binge eating at the all you could eat brunch at the O Club. We started the good ole Distelzweig tradition of the bunny hiding the kids Easter baskets. They were laughing so hard when they found one in the shower and the other in the refrigerator.

Not a bad day considering we were in the TLFs on base still living out of suitcases:)

This year Easter's message of new beginnings had extra special meaning as we start this new adventure in our lives. Our lives are overflowing with blessings and we are

adios AZ...guten tag Germany!!!!

The last few weeks in AZ were busy and crazy...and a little heartbreaking. I could not possibly speak highly enough of our 3 years in the valley of the sun. Amazing house, neighborhood, squadron and friends. I truly thought that moving to an amazing place like Germany would make this move a breeze. I quickly learned that not even Europe can ease the pain on closing an amazing chapter in a persons life!!!

I was spoiled by my best buds with a girls day with massages, sushi and even gifts and sweet notes from the girls who I have made countless memories with. I can wait to have my car and a house so I can put some keys on my BEAUTIFUL Coach keychain:)

Then the move came and insanity set in!!! Kurt and I felt like the week would never end...and we cleaned and scrubbed and painted so much that I thought my fingers were going to fall off!!! Then we got to stay at the Wigwam for a week and even got a visit from our great friend and Keegan's Godmother Ange. Sadly, I forgot to take a single pic!!! I guess I just enjoyed the company and relaxed so much I forgot about my camera. Keegan is still telling me on a daily basis how cool Ange is!!! We packed our remaining few days with last visits with friends. I dont think I have ever been so teary eyed in my life...and you didnt hear it from me, but I think I saw Kurt almost lose his cool a few times too;)

I now sit in our room on base at Spangdahlem AB in Germany. It is GORGEOUS here!!!Not even close to being settled in...no car, wont see most of our furniture etc until May, and VERY jetlagged, but...I live in Germany!!!! Soooooo sureal...so amazing...I feel very blessed!!! We have been welcomed with open arms, met lots of people in our squadron , Kurt will be named this weekend in a traditional wild fighter pilot fashion involving viking costumes, and we have a welcome dinner on Tuesday at a German restuarant.

Soooo...as I sit here missing my AZ life but thrilled about the life we will create in Europe, I have realized one very important thing!!! Fighter squadron wives are the most amazing group of girls on the planet!!! I am not exaggerating here...they are simply phenominal!!!! I am thankful for all of you I have had the privledge to meet over the last 9 years!!!! I know I am not always the best at staying in touch. I blame the kids completely!!! No matter what...I hope you know how much I love you all...and I can only hope the AF will let our paths cross again. If not, there will be lots of visits lined up once we are back in the US. And please remember, we have an open door policy here in Germany:)

Ok...so...enough babbling...here are a few pics:)

Reese got to have a girly day with a few of her friends...she got her first pedicure and picked flourescent pink, glitter and wanted a flower with a rhinestone:)

Keegan and Andrew. As a sidenote, Andrew says he is going to marry Reese b/c she is sooooo cute. Hmmmm...Pam and I as in laws...that could spell trouble:)

Shot, Slammer, Tam and two of my all time favorite ladies, Renee and Jasmine. WE enjoyed an evening celebrating the reactivation of the 69th FS at Luke. Fighter pilot band and some good margaritas=a fun night. Dont forget us when we need a reserve job guys!!!!

dont even know what to say:)

Keegan, Emily (one of his girlfriends!!!!) and Reese They kinda look like triplets!!!

Nonnie and Boppa enjoying a nice warm AZ day at the zoo

The 2 cutest brother and sister ever!!!!

Jody, Pam, Renee, Jasmine, Anne Marie, me and Lisa...a little preparty before the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert in our neighborhood.

Reese, Grace(Keegans other girlfriend!!!), and Keegan

LOVE this pic!!!!

Me and Desiree:)
Pam and I (orange is her color dont you think???)
The family at the fini flight
High fives from the OConnors!!!
Kurt looks just a little cold!!!
Shot, Kurt and Tam. Shot is the best flight dr EVER and Kurt had him fly in the back seat...and Tam was Kurts #2. These 2 go sooooo far back and have gotten into all sorts of trouble together.
Getting wet

He tried to run

I think Kurt is figuring out his gameplan here:) During your last flight at a base, your buddies wait for you...pin you down and make sure you are drenched at the end. I have NEVER seen anyone get away:)

In Baltimore...wondering what we were thinking bringing all of this luggage. I guess when you wont see most of your things for a few months you do crazy things:) 6 LARGE bags, 4 carry on bags, 2 carseats and a double stroller

At the airport...no turning back now:) And yes, Kurt took Mustache March very seriously this year!!!

For once, I needed Crew Rest;)

Our honorary Sq commander and his wife are generous beyond words!!! They spoiled the wives the day before Valentines Day. Kurt was sooooo off the hook this year since it would have been impossible for him to have topped this...

A gourmet meal and rides in vintage airplanes!!!! All I can say is WOW...and that I would like Nazy and Rosy to be my Valentines EVERY year!!!!

Valentine's Day

For DAYS after Valentines Day the kids wanted everything dipped in chocolate!!!

Our AZ home...

So...we have about 2 weeks left before the movers arrive to get our stuff on its way across the ocean. For anyone who doesnt already know, we are moving to Spangdahlem AB in Germany. We will be very sad to leave our home and friends...but are so excited about our next AF adventure. We feel very blessed to have this opportunity at this point in Kurt's career since this is not the typical assignment for a Major select.

That leads me to our other news..

Kurt is a Major select...so he will be promoted in a few months. He is also a school select. For you non-AF peeps...this is just a very good thing for career progression and means that after our time in Europe, we will be going somewhere (most likely Alabama) for a year for Kurt to study military stuff. 2010 has been filled with exciting new for us. So...Jody, you are right...2010 might just be the year of the D10's. Makes me worry a little about 2011:)

So...while getting ready for this move I realized that I NEVER took a single pic of our house in the 3 years we lived here. There are pics of us in the house or the house in the background...but none of just the rooms and what they look like. A friend of a friend is interested in renting our house...and a few of you havent had the chance to visit (you can make up for this by coming to Germany!!!!)...so, here are some pics. Meradith...hope this helps you get a better idea of the house. Back yard pics soon to come. More details than needed for the average blog follower...but I just wanted to help out a fellow military family and show them as much as possible. Just so you know...it is a triple lot which makes the yard HUGE my AZ standards. Pool, and there is enough cement back there that my kids can ride their bikes!!

Please excuse any random piles or messes...moving prep as already started so we will not see the house in a perfect state ever again...

These pics show why I am sad to leave my house. We were very blessed to have called this home for the last 3 years!! Of course...even more difficult than leaving our house will be leaving our friends. In the AF, friends become your family...and what an amazing military family we have. Although I know the Germany crew will be amazing too...I just hate the idea of not knowing when I will see the people who I have made countless memories with next. But...as always....I NEVER say goodbye...just see you later;)

The front of the house. We are so lucky to live in a cul de sac...but the entire middle is grass. Lots of kids and lots of places to run and play. Mountains in the background Looks small from the outside...but it is 3500 sq feet and has a 3 car tandem garage.



the living room (you can see the bar in the background)

living room (supposed to be a dining room...hence the light hanging so low). this is at the front of the house

Toy room. It is a mess...and I am not going to lie...most of the time it is.

There is a closet to the right...we took the door off and made it a dress up nook.

Guest room. See what you missed out on if you didnt make it to AZ;) And how classy is it that we have our Christmas tree in there??? This is the beginning of the pile of things that are going into storage!!!!

The office. Looks like a bomb went off...we have a million little piles all over the floor right now

Or room. King size bed and on the other walls you dont see we have an armoir and a dresser. We added a few of the lights...so the big light we will take down and put into strorage.

Laundry room. Washer and dryer came with the house. I will never be able to have a normal washer and dryer again. Kurt even created a custom cycle for his flight suits;)

the bar ...tons of storage that I know I will not have in germany. Where will we put all the booze???

more toy room. Reeses room is the doorway to the right...Keegans is to the left
View from kitchen looking towards the front of the house. Laundryroom is just past the little lamp and mirror

Neighbors house...they have 7 kiddos...I think they are looking at moving soon though. A very nice but BUSY house!!!

The last 2 pics are the neigbors on the other side. This pic is the house on the other side of us. They have 3 kids...all elementary school age. the girls come over and read to Keegan and Reese...and they are ALWAYS outside playing. In the above pic...the first house is a family with 3 elementary age school girls. And the house to the right of it is a middle age guy with a son (mayeb about 10) and his mom lives with him. They are the quiet ones.

There is a HUGE grassy area with a park at the end. It is normally green grass and sucha great place to get out of the house and let the kids run and play. We are within walking distance of the school and Main St which has a bank, market, pizzeria/winebar, coffee shop and CVS

Keegan's room


keegans room

keegans room

keegans room

Reese's bathroom...it is in her room. We thought about making her room the guest room for this reason.





another view of Reese's bathroom

anotehr view of Reese's room

and another

master bath

3rd bathroom off toy room

Kitchen...all GE Profile appliances and has reverse osmosis system...filtered water through fridge or sink

anotehr view...HUGE pantry!!!!

another view of master bath

and another...oh how I will miss my huge shower and bathtub:(

and anothr view...the mirrored doors were not my favorite at first...but now I actually like them... they lead into the closet wich is bigger than Keegans room was when we lived in base housing in NM. Nothing fancy as far as shelving etc...but TONS of room an storage. I actually have to vacuum it.

pic is kinda dark...but this is the living room looking toward the back patio/yard

living room. For gauging size...the TV is 60 inches. I am pretty sure we will be bling after taking it to Germany and sitting 3 inches away:)



1/2 bath

1/2 bath

kicthen...my favroite feature...the double oven!!!!

eat in kicthen area. thsi is the table that I think I have to leave in storage:( To get it into this house was a pain...so I am not sure about getting it in a German house!!!! Ask any of my friends how sad this makes me!!!!

living room again

not the best pic since everything is still pretty dormant from the winter. It is very green and lots of blooms by late spring. We pruned everything right after this pics was take. There is a large cememnt pad (about the size of a half basketball ct to the left. you can see it in Keegans bday pics...that is where we had the jumpy castle)...grass and the patio behind where I took the pic...and another large cement pad beyond that.